'something unexpected'
Ring… ring…
Eric twirled the phone cord nervously in his fingers, eyeing the girl across from him. They were downstairs in the hotel lounge now, and finally the international call had gotten through.
Ring… ring…
"What?" he had said after several heartbeats, dismayed and hurt.
"You have to leave," she had repeated firmly, and pushed herself away from him to stand up. "You have to get out of here. You are in horrible danger, Eric."
"Yeah, I thought we already knew that."
"No, Eric, you don't get it. We're dealing with magic. These guys… they're magic."
"So?"
"So, I'm not strong enough to fight it. I – can't help you." The cold and measured words had shocked him speechless, and the look in her eyes muted all appeal. "You have to leave."
Ring… ring…
She was back in the same black jeans and red sleeveless top he'd first met her in, the same reserved expression on her face. A brisk and cold shower had washed away all her hot tears and blotchy skin. Cool and determined, she leaned over the wooden bartop and stared fixedly at the ringing phone.
"But I can't…" he had lamely tried to protest. "My dad…"
"I don't care, Eric. Fix it. Tell him what's going on. You have to get out of here."
"Tell him what's going on? Please. He'd never buy it!"
"Then tell him anything. Apologize, ask for the money. Tell him whatever it takes."
Ring… ring…
It was taking an awfully long time for the secretary to pick up, and he glanced at the bar clock. If he reckoned right, it should still be office hours over there.
"Masters Electronics, executive suite."
Meilin heard her and tensed. The words caught in Eric's throat as he watched the light reflect off that shiny black hair.
"Hello?"
Meilin punched his arm, and he winced.
"Ah- Ann. Hello. It's me, Eric."
"Eric," she cooed. "Hello there. I heard you were in Asia this week. How is it?"
"One non-stop adventure." His father's secretary laughed lightly, and he forced a chuckle.
"I'll just put you through to your father. He said he was expecting you to call in sooner or later."
Eric winced, but before he could say anything he'd been transferred.
Ring… ring…
"And what about you?" he had pleaded as a last-ditch resort. "What will you do when I'm safely packed off to California? Huh? Just gonna go back to your family, go back to being the useless girl they think you are?"
At that she had no immediate retort, and lowered her eyes.
"Don't worry about me, Eric. You don't have the luxury of worrying about me. This is about you, and the danger you're in."
"Like you're not? Like these guys are just going to forget about you and everything you did?"
"Don't be silly," she had muttered. "I don't matter in this. I'm not important."
"Bull," he had replied succintly. "You are."
Ring… ring…
She had raised her eyes then, and there was no hint of vacillation in them.
"I am asking you, Eric. I am asking you for your sake. Please get on the phone and call your father. You have to get out of here."
And still yet she had not wavered. She was still sitting across from him, watching him intently.
Ring- *click*. His father had picked up.
And then Eric couldn't stand it anymore and slammed the phone down on the receiver.
"Eric!" She rocketed out of her chair and slapped her hands down on the counter. "What are you, crazy? Why did you do that? You get back on that phone right now; you call him back!"
"No," he replied, standing up to face her. "I won't. I will not leave you behind in this city on your own. I owe you too much to do that to you."
"I told you not to worry about me! I can take of myself!"
"Don't I know it. But that doesn't matter. Still not leaving."
They regarded each other silently for one moment, then she uttered an impatient snarl and kicked at a bar stool.
"Why? What – what are you trying to prove, Eric?"
"Not trying to prove anything. I just know I'm not ready to leave you. Not yet."
"Baka!" She stamped her foot on the marble floor and spun around, marching toward the hotel exit. "What do you think is going on here? Some kind of game? They're going to kill you, and you don't even take it seriously."
"And where do you think you're going?"
"Away. Maybe when I'm gone, you'll understand you have no choice but to go home."
"Oh no, you don't." He kept pace with her easily and was right on her heels when she pushed open the door and stormed into the street. The midday mugginess of Hong Kong hit them both in a wave, and Eric wilted a little under the intense heat. The clouds of the short storm the night before had all been swept away again, and there was nothing but bright blue sky above. But he kept up with her all the same. "You're not getting away that easy. Not after all we've been through."
He skipped ahead lightly to block her path, and she ground her teeth before altering her direction. Still he refused to give up, and strode alongside her.
"What is it going to take to convince you?" she pleaded. "I am not strong enough for this! Don't you understand what kind of powers we're dealing with?"
"No."
"Me neither. I tried to fight something magical that I didn't understand once. And I nearly got killed. I'm not making that same mistake again. I know my limits now."
"Do you? I doubt it."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
All this maneuvering on the crowded sidewalk wasn't easy, but he managed to dart ahead of her and force her to stop.
"Am I the only one that's, like, been here these past few days? Was I the only one that saw you trounce them? Over and over again?"
Meilin lifted her chin.
"It was different! I didn't know any better. And it was so close every time! I can't believe how lucky I was that we made it this far."
"Lucky?" Eric repeated in disbelief. "You're kidding me, right? Lucky? With all your strength, and your skill, and all that training you told me about – you think you were lucky?"
"I don't 'think,' Eric. I know what I'm talking about."
"What is WRONG with you?" he burst out, causing her to jump slightly. But he couldn't take it anymore, this was getting ridiculous. "Would you wake up? Can't you see how strong you are? How amazing, and how special, and how wonderful you are?"
She stared at him frozenly as he ranted, too surprised to bring herself to deny him.
"You can't keep doing this to yourself, Meilin, you can't keep forcing yourself to say that you're worthless. Deep down, you know it's not true. You've fought these guys; you can fight these guys."
"But the magic -"
"Screw the damn magic! Last night you were screaming that you could handle this on your own. What's happened since then? Nothing. You're just convinced that you can't do it because of everything your parents said to you!"
"They -"
"They were assholes, Meilin, and you know it! They didn't deserve you. And neither did that jerk from last night!"
He never even saw her fist flash out, it was so quick, but the blow nearly knocked him to the sidewalk and left him with a ringing pain in his jaw.
"Don't you dare speak that way about him!"
And then she was gone, marching on at a clipped and angry pace. He rubbed his jaw tenderly and swallowed a groan.
"Guess I should have seen that coming," he muttered, and hurried to catch up. "Hey! Wait up!"
"No. I am not speaking to you anymore. It's over, Eric. Accept it and go home. Forget about me."
"Like it's that easy."
"It is."
"Do you really mean that?" he asked, a hint of pain in his voice. Meilin actually hesitated, and her stride slowed. "Are you serious? Is it going to be that easy to just turn around and leave me behind? After all that's happened?"
"O-of course," she forced herself to say. "It's just been a few days."
"A few days that I know have changed my life forever. How about you?"
This time he was sure that he saw her swallow before she replied.
"It doesn't matter one way or another. This is not the time for such things; you could die here in this city. Doesn't that frighten you at all? You were scared before; what happened to that?"
Now she was the one looking at him, her eyes pleading with him to see reason. They rounded a corner to enter another lively street of cafes and tourist hotspots. A burst of melody from a nearby restaurant reached his ears.
"Yeah I was scared. Still am, a little. But I guess I realized that I had more important things to worry about than death." He reached up to cup one side of her face as she halted mid-step, and for a moment he saw her weaken. Then she shook her head and pushed his hand away.
"This is foolish, Eric. You can't throw your life away to remain with me. I'm not important enough for that."
"I think that's my decision. And you still don't get it. I'm not throwing away my life to stay with you. I have to stay with you; I need to stay with you."
"What?"
"My blood is glowing, Meilin. I'm primed to feed these guys, but what if nothing happens? What if I do escape and go back home, then what? Do I just live the rest of my life with this symbol on my back? I can't do that – who knows what will happen. So you see, I can't run away, not this time. I have to stay and face it."
He could see the truth of his words settle into her eyes, reluctant and stubborn though they were. He knew she understood, even if she didn't want to admit it. Taking her hand in his, he led her to a patch of sidewalk under the open window of the restaurant. Western music blared through, and he rested a hand on her hip.
"Hey! What are you doing?" she protested, looking a little thrown by the sudden shift in activity.
"It's called dancing. Jessie made me take lessons with her. Kinda fun, when there's good music on."
So bye, bye, miss American pie…"Drove my Chevy to the levy when the levy was dry," he sang along whimsically.
"Stop it, Eric! We're not through."
"I think we are. I've made my reasons clear, and I know you agree. And I'm demonstrating my final point."
He pulled her close and began to guide her into the steps.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye…
"Let me go!"
"No. We're in this together, Meilin, we have been since that first night. You made a decision to help me when they attacked, and you have to stick with it. You can't just give up and send me home."
She wasn't fighting his hands anymore, he noticed, and he raised his arm to twirl her again. This time she adapted. There was still resistance in her eyes, but her body was too accustomed to graceful motion to not follow through.
"There is no one else," he stated firmly, "that I trust. No one else that can help me. Only you."
Meilin felt the last of the fight in her crumble at those words, and the sincerity in them. Dazedly she allowed him to slide his hands down her arm and step away, and when he beckoned with the crook of his finger she obeyed, spinning twice to return to his arms.
"You're my hero, Meilin," he whispered into her ear, holding her close. "I'm depending on you."
Singing, 'this'll be the day that I die…'*****
Meilin watched another tear fall, splattering next to her left shoe. It was the second one, falling near the first, and she could feel another preparing itself. She sighed, and gave a half-hearted attempt to hold them back, but it was no use. She was in trouble, and she had been sent outside to sit on the steps to think about what she did.
Except she didn't know what she did. She only knew the pain of the bruises her father had inflicted the night before, her aching and empty stomach, and the hot burning sensation of the forthcoming tears.
Arms wrapped around her knees and hugging them to her chest, she was far too sunk into her inner misery to notice anyone approaching. It wasn't until she heard the soft peep that she looked up.
First she noticed the bird. It was small and plain, speckled brown feathers fluffed out as it hopped from one side of the cage to the other. One pair of black eyes locked with another, and the bird peeped again before settling and cocking its head to one side to examine her. Meilin felt as though she was being studied, and unconsciously copied its motion so she could hold its gaze.
"Do you like her?" asked an older voice. That was when Meilin realized her aunt, a quiet family member who had rarely spoken to her before, was kneeling down before her on the steps and holding the birdcage. The bird chirped at the sound, then cocked her head to the other side. Meilin imitated her, almost smiling. Shy about speaking – speaking only seemed to make her parents angrier with her – she nodded timidly.
"Good. She is lonely, separated from her family. I told her that perhaps the two of you could be friends."
"Friends," Meilin whispered the unfamiliar word and raised a hand to touch the bars.
"That's right. It's a very important task, and I wouldn't entrust her with anyone else. But I think you can do it all right."
The beautiful face of her aunt, normally so reserved and emotionless, was smiling kindly at her now. It had been some while since an adult smiled at Meilin, and the lonely girl felt a flutter in her chest.
"I can bring you her big cage and some food this evening, if you agree. Would you like to keep her for a little while?"
Meilin nodded. She wanted to speak, she wanted to say thank you like she had been brought up to. But now her throat was tightening, and it hurt, and her eyes were smarting with tears again. She didn't understand, the bird wasn't making her sad, but she was crying anyway. Her aunt didn't seem to mind, but stood and patted her softly on the head.
"I must go inside to speak with your mother; tell her about the bird. Please stay here and get to know one another."
The graceful woman glided up the steps and disappeared through the front door. And that was when she finally noticed that her aunt had brought along her son. Sullen and quiet, Meilin had always avoided him at family dinners. He made her nervous, the way he always glared so darkly. He was doing so now, crossing his arms and refusing to sit down. She wondered whether her aunt had meant for her to get to know the bird, or her cousin, and was about to ask when someone raised their voice inside.
"…and you should mind your own business, Yelan, this is none of your concern! Such impudence is…"
Meilin cringed at her mother's harsh tone, and wondered if she was in trouble again. But she could hear her aunt speaking louder now too, though she couldn't understand the words. Was her mother angry about the bird? What if she wouldn't let her keep it?
The little girl clutched at the cage possessively and trembled. Syaoran did nothing, just looked away. After more words were exchanged, her aunt emerged once more and smiled at the children.
"It is settled, Meilin. The bird will stay here for the time being. I'm trusting you."
Overjoyed, she nodded in the affirmative. Yelan bowed her head before turning to leave, and Syaoran copied her. Then, almost as an afterthought, the tall woman looked back over her shoulder.
"One more thing. My son begins his training in combat tomorrow. He needs a partner of his age and size for his lessons. He and Wei will be here tomorrow to collect you. Please be ready."
Both children stared back at her in surprise, uncomprehending. Meilin was the more puzzled, as she had known nothing of any combat training. But Syaoran quickly grasped the meaning and opened his mouth with a rebellious attitude. He'd been waiting eagerly to begin his training for a year now, and he'd be darned if he was going to do it with any girl.
But his mother quelled his complaint with one look, and the two of them left Meilin alone with her bird.
**
The sword flashed and gleamed in the light of the late afternoon sun as Syaoran sliced through the air. First a block, then a slice, slice, whirl, twist, thrust, stab, slice, slice. Spin once more, and the final stab.
The lethal point was an inch away from the dummy's nose when Syaoran stopped. Panting and covered in a thin film of sweat, he held the position for a few heartbeats. The swordtip didn't waver as he forced his body to keep rigidly still. Perfect focus, perfect technique, no chance of losing control even in the thick of battle. It was the essence of a skilled warrior, and he had worked his whole life to achieve it. Right from the very first day that he and Meilin had begun.
"Don't," he spoke aloud, never breaking the dummy's stare.
"Don't what?" his mother asked.
The stare was too knowing. Syaoran twirled the sword once around his hand and took a step back.
"Don't try to convince me, don't try to talk to me, don't try whatever Sakura asked you to do. Don't."
Yelan lifted those arched eyebrows of hers and clasped her hands.
"Sakura left the house hours ago. I just wanted to see how you were."
"I'm fine. They never touched me."
"Not what I meant."
Syaoran snarled a little and swiped his sword through the empty air. It felt good, but nothing was draining off this anxious energy.
"Why is everybody so convinced that I'm suffering? It's not like this is any big deal. Everybody knows I don't love her. What happened last night probably should have happened years ago."
Syaoran shot his mother a touchy glare, but she was too used to such looks to ever be intimidated.
"She's chosen her path, I'm not on it, and that's that. Meilin and I are through."
There. He'd said the words aloud, firmly declared them to his mother and anyone else that could hear. He'd shout them from the mountains, if he had to. He was the future leader of this clan, and he had spoken. No one could force him to change his mind.
Yelan read all this in his eyes and bowed her head before turning to go. But this time it was Syaoran that spoke up.
"You saved her. Didn't you? They never hit her again after we started training. You gave her her strength."
His mother did not turn around, but her words were clear and unmistakable.
"Her strength was already there. I merely lent a hand."
That was all, before she disappeared back into the house. Syaoran was still for a moment, and then in a burst of frustration drove his sword into the earth. It didn't make him feel any better, and after a second he sank to his knees beside it.
The high flying spring breeze teased at his bangs, but the young fighter didn't move a muscle. Everything was quiet, still, and waiting.
*****
"…and so, because rent control forces building owners to charge less than what their property cost them, a lot of them go broke and leave the business. Demand exceeds supply, and we're stuck with the same homeless problem we had before. Government just made it worse." He finished drawing his graph on the napkin and displayed it proudly. "See?"
Meilin shook her head. "You are so strange, Eric, have I told you that?"
"I think so, yeah."
"If you care so much about all this, why don't you try to change it? You can run for a position of authority in your country, right?"
"Me, cross over to the dark side? Become a politican?" Eric made a face. "Don't even suggest it. I'm a complainer, pure and simple. Besides, I'm not looking to conquer the world like my father is, never wanted to. All I ever wanted was an easy job that pays well, a Lexus, and a house overlooking the coast. Plus a wife and 2.5 kids – Thomas Jefferson and Madison Masters. Is that so much to ask?"
"Madison? For a girl?"
"Madison is a great name," he said defensively. "Fourth president of the U.S., secretary of the Constitutional Convention and cowriter of the Federalist Papers. Then Monroe wrote his stupid doctrine and it all went downhill from there."
Meilin stared at him, then unexpectedly giggled.
"What's so funny?"
"You do find the oddest things to care about."
"I'm unique."
"That means 'strange', right?"
"Yes," he admitted grumpily. "It means strange. But anyway, you're not one to be talking."
"No, I'm ordinary. Remember?"
"Oh that's right," he concurred, an edge of sarcasm in his voice. "I forgot. Miss Muggle could never be more than ordinary. So don't lie, did you shoot the owl when it brought your invitation and bury the evidence? Don't blame you, I wouldn't want to go to England either. Freaking cold, that place is."
Meilin almost choked on her drink when he said that and tried to smother her laughter, unable to believe he'd gone there and too surprised to be angry. Her aberration had never been anything but a source of misery and resentment, and she'd spent the morning crying into his shoulder over it. That it was something to be joked about had never occurred to her.
And yet he'd pulled it off, with that carefree charm and disarming wink.
"How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Make me…" she groped for an appropriate word, "un-troubled. No one can make me laugh like you do."
"It's a gift."
"I like it."
The intensity of his blue gaze shifted a little at those words, and she blushed when she recognized the significance of his look. Trying to avoid eye contact, she refocused on her dinner and began toying with her noodles. Her words stayed with her, though.
Happy… a long forgotten sensation. She'd buried it years before, when she finally understood the truth about Syaoran and Sakura. She had been sure she would never be truly happy again. Now she wasn't so sure.
Not that she wasn't happy in Eric's company. Oh no, there was no question about it. And that was the worry. Because if this carefree and easygoing companionship between them was happiness, then she had never known happiness with Syaoran.
Deeply rooted beliefs were threatening to give way, and Meilin shook her head to clear it.
"That's weird," Eric spoke up, and she winced.
"I'm sorry, I was just thinking about something and I -"
"I wonder where this came from." Eric wasn't looking at her at all, she realized, but reaching to pick up something that lay between them on the table. It was a flower, a very pretty one, but he was fairly sure that it hadn't been there a second ago. He picked it up and fingered the crisp white petals.
"This wasn't here before, was it? Is it a… lily?"
He knew next to nothing about flowers, but the familiar shape and color made him certain that he'd seen at least a picture of it somewhere. Meilin was staring at it, her eyes a conflict of fear and relief.
"It's a lotus," she offered at last. "My favorite." She plucked it from his surprised fingertips and inhaled its scent. "Would you excuse us for a few minutes, Eric?"
"What?" At first he thought she was talking about her and the flower, then he swept his gaze around the outdoor patio of the restaurant they were eating in.
It would have been impossible to miss the girl standing by the railing. Her face had an Asian cast to it, but her skin was paler by far than the surrounding Chinese, and curiously vibrant green eyes returned his stare.
"You're sure?" Sakura asked again, standing up on her toes, wishing she could use the Jump Card for this, and scanning the crowded streets. Kero grunted an affirmative from her purse.
"It's definitely what we felt over at Bird Street, if that's what you're asking. And since the kid found them again by recognizing their sense last night, I'd assume we're dealing with the same crowd. They must be close by."
Sakura nodded, feeling a little nervous. She may have been powerful, but she was no warrior, and she did not particularly care to meet the Everlasting Dragons alone. For the hundredth time she wished Syaoran had not stayed home. It was just when she thinking about him that her gaze roved over the restaurant patio and she spotted Meilin.
"Did you say something?" Kero inquired after her startled gasp.
"I – uh, no. No, I just got something caught in my throat." She coughed loudly, then darted around the corner and out of view. "You know what, Kero-chan, I think you should go ahead and get home."
"Huh? But what about searching for that gang? I'm telling you, I feel them really close by."
"Sure, but there's no sign of them anywhere. Maybe they were just here recently and aren't around anymore. Anyway, I think it's safe to say that they won't be starting any trouble in a crowded place like this. I just want to have a cup of tea and then go home."
"But I wanna cup of tea!"
"I won't be able to sneak it to you in a place like this, silly." She scooped him out of her purse and gave him a conspiratorial look. "We're not getting anywhere like this, and I just really want some time to sit alone. Tell you what, you know how Syaoran told you that his sister's cake was all gone?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, I happen to know that he lied. There's a slice hidden behind the milk in the fridge." Kero gave a strangled gasp of indignation.
"He lied to me? To me!"
"Well, what did you expect? If you hurry home, you could have it for dinner. I'll be along in a little while."
"Just lemme at it!" It was all the impetus Kero needed, and he shot upwards. Soon he was just a speck high in the late afternoon sky, flying home over the heads of the unsuspecting crowds. Satisfied, Sakura returned to the street.
Meilin was still there, eating dinner with the tourist that Syaoran had spoken of. He brandished a napkin, showing off something he'd drawn, and for some reason Meilin laughed. Sakura almost teared up with relief.
She looks well. Happy. And she's laughing! Oh, Syaoran, if you could see her right now. I've never seen her smile like that, not even for you.
Feeling as though she was witness to something precious, Sakura hovered by the railing and clasped her hands together. They spoke some more, and then he said something that made her laugh into her drink. The conversation paused, and she looked down at her plate. Now seemed the time, but Sakura hesitated before calling her name. Syaoran's bitter hurt after Meilin had run from him popped into her mind, and she had an image of a startled deer fleeing back into the forest. This was a miraculous chance; she couldn't afford to waste it. Tomoyo was so much better at these things… what would she do?
Sakura thought for a moment, and then something occurred to her. Smiling, she reached for the Flower Card, and whispered the incantation.
It was a few seconds before they noticed it, but she knew Meilin understood right away. Without looking up, she spoke to the stranger, who was far less subtle about it. After trading stares with Sakura for a moment, he reluctantly stood up and backed away. Sakura smiled her appreciation, waited until he was sitting at the bar, and then approached the table.
Except now that she was finally with her, she had no idea what to say. Meilin stared at her from across the table and waited for her to begin.
"Thank you for not running," Sakura ventured with a hesitant smile. Meilin half-smiled herself, and shrugged.
"I figured it was this or you would just trap me in the Loop Card. And no offense, but I've already run that race."
Sakura's smile grew, remembering that day. "You know I wouldn't do that to you. I just wanted to see you. We've all been pretty worried, you know." Guilt flashed across Meilin's face, and then it was gone again. "We all came down as soon as Li-san called."
"That's what I figured," Meilin admitted, "when I saw him. Who else came? Tomoyo?"
"No, she couldn't get away from schoolwork. It's just me and Syaoran and Kero-chan for the time being. But if we're still here when she's done, I'm sure she'll hop the next flight down."
Meilin emitted a quiet snort and looked away. "She doesn't have to bother. I'm not worth it, you know. You all could have stayed home."
"Meilin, how could you say that?" Sakura chided. "Look at everything we've been through together. Especially you and Syaoran. How could you think we wouldn't come to look?"
"I wasn't thinking," was the toneless reply. "I wasn't thinking about anything. I still don't understand how it happened. I just met him, and one thing led to another… I never really had a chance to look back. It was all so quick. And I am sorry, I really am. I never meant to cause you worry." She stiffened and a little of her old glare returned to her eyes. "But I'm not going back. I won't go back to that, not now."
Sakura shook her head in emphatic denial.
"Oh no. I would never make you go back to that. I saw what you lived with." Meilin flushed and looked down. "But I know that you were going to leave," Sakura added, causing Meilin to look up again. "I found your passport and the money, Meilin. You were going to run away, weren't you?"
After a long moment, the darker-haired girl nodded.
"Why didn't you tell us? Or at least me? You know you could have come to Tomoeda anytime, you didn't have to endure that. Even if you didn't, um, want to live with Syaoran again, you know you could have stayed with Tomoyo. If it came to that, I would have shared my room with you."
Meilin smiled wanly at Sakura's pleading words, but she was shaking her head gently.
"Sakura, Sakura. That money- I wasn't going to run to Japan."
It was so unexpected that Sakura almost didn't grasp the meaning.
"You – what?"
"I wasn't going to go to Japan. I hadn't decided where yet. Singapore maybe, or Australia. Maybe even America itself. But I wasn't going back to Tomoeda. Not back to living in your shadows anymore."
She would have laughed at Sakura's stricken expression if her friend didn't look so aghast.
"I would have written, of course, to let you all know that I was safe and sound. But don't you see? There wasn't anything for me in Japan. No way for me to make something of myself. There was only Syaoran." Her face clouded over a bit. "And he's not enough. Not anymore."
For a moment, Sakura couldn't speak, but she forced herself to nod. "I see."
Meilin wasn't so sure she did, but she let it go and took a sip of her iced tea.
"This is tearing him apart," Sakura said quietly. Meilin's expression didn't flicker, but her hand clutched at the glass a little more tightly before she set it down again. "Ever since his mother first called to tell him. He's hardly slept, hardly eaten; he's consumed with worry about you."
"Let me guess. He was convinced that I was in trouble; needed rescuing?"
Sakura flushed a little, and Meilin gave her an I-thought-so look.
"Still the same old Syaoran. We trained as equals for all our lives, but he always had to assume control. Always saw fit to order me around in Japan, when searching for the Cards. He tried to do it again last night."
"Don't feel too bad," Sakura tried. "He ordered me around in the beginning too, a lot."
"He got over it. He had no choice but to respect your power. Me… he sees nothing there. I'll always be the girl at his beck and call, and I can't even really blame him. Not after the way I groveled at his feet for so many years."
There was pain in that voice, and shame. Sakura blew her wispy bangs out of her eyes and studied the girl across from her.
"Well, I guess it's time for him to rethink his attitude. Believe me, after last night he'll think twice about ever ordering you to do something again."
Surprised, Meilin realized that Sakura was actually fighting a smile.
"What about you? Aren't you angry?"
"Well, I wish you hadn't made us worry so much. But no, I'm not angry." Sakura's gaze flitted past Meilin to rest on that blonde stranger again. He was perched on a barstool, watching them over the rim of his drink, not even pretending to look away when she made eye contact. "Who is he?"
"He's…" Meilin tried to find the words to describe Eric. "He's just someone that needs me."
"Oh." Sakura considered that. "You know, we needed you too. We couldn't have caught the Twin Card without you."
Meilin hmphed. "One out of fifty two. Glad I could be there for you."
Sakura winced a tiny bit. "I never thought you were useless, Meilin. You know that."
"Yes. I know. But it doesn't change things. My whole life, with the family, finding the Cards… Syaoran… I've always been expendable. For the first time ever, someone really needs me."
Much to Sakura's surprise, a couple tears welled up in Meilin's eyes and began to drip down on her food.
"He's desperate to stay by my side; he refuses to leave me. It feels so… I can't describe it, even. It's like nothing I've ever felt before."
Sakura's heart went out to the girl across from her, and she leaned over with a napkin.
"Shh, it's not something to cry over. This is a good thing. You've found someone that can do what Syaoran never could."
"I know." Meilin dabbed at her cheeks and tried to get control of herself. "I'm sorry. It's all just been so confusing lately. Someone like him was unexpected."
"For all of us," Sakura replied dryly. She sneaked another glance at the man at the bar, noting the way his tan contrasted with his sun-streaked hair. He wore his black button-down shirt casually, with the sleeves rolled up and untucked, but it didn't conceal his lean frame. "Syaoran didn't mention how cute he was."
Immediately Meilin blushed. The sight of it was so foreign and surprising that Sakura almost giggled.
"It's not what you think."
"Really? What do I think?"
"You're thinking that…" Meilin's voice trailed off as her skin got even hotter with embarrassment. "Well, you know."
Only a girl would have noticed the telltale fidgeting and blushing, and Sakura was alert for the signals.
"Has he kissed you?"
Meilin gave a minute nod, and Sakura squealed excitedly.
"That's great! Isn't that wonderful? I can't wait to tell Tomoyo!"
"Hold on," Meilin interposed hastily. "It doesn't really mean anything; I mean, I told him to stop."
"Why?"
"I don't know… It just didn't feel right. It made me feel so strange inside."
"That's how it's supposed to feel, the first time," Sakura said wisely.
"No, not like that. Like it was wrong, somehow. Not the right man, not the right way. None of it was supposed to happen this way."
"Welcome to life, Meilin. Nothing happens the way we expect it to. I should know that more than anyone."
Her friend didn't look convinced, and Sakura rested her chin in her hands thoughtfully.
"I spent years of my life loving a certain young man. He was every inch the wonderful person that I thought he was, and dreamed to be with. But he didn't love me back, not like how I wanted him to. He was perfect, and yet… somehow, I ended up with someone even better."
She smiled and shrugged in a resigned kind of way.
"Love is like that sometimes. Pouncing when you least expect it."
For a minute or so the table was utterly quiet, and Sakura waited for her words to sink in. Meilin had a glazed look in her eyes, and the Japanese girl decided she'd said as much as she could. It was probably time to go.
"I guess you should get back to him," she finally said, and pushed away to stand up. "I don't suppose you'd both like to come back to the house?"
Meilin smiled but shook her head. "I can't do that."
"I thought so. But we'll be there when you're ready." Sakura turned to go, then remembered and looked over her shoulder.
"By the way, happy birthday."
The look of surprise on Meilin's face was too funny, and she chuckled. Meilin stared at her friend, mentally trying to count the days since she'd met Eric. It couldn't have been more than three – or was it four now? The sunsets all seemed to blur into one another; it was too difficult to distinguish one from another.
"It's Thursday already?"
"That's right."
After a second, Meilin's smile grew to match Sakura's. She'd forgotten all about it in the excitement, but today she turned seventeen.
"I'll be going now. Ja ne."
Not 'sayonora', Meilin thought curiously, and watched her friend walk away with confident strides. Sakura had changed a lot from that timid girl facing the Fight Card, grown surer of her abilities and the people around her. She evidently didn't fear that she would never meet Meilin again.
Meilin hoped she was right.
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Disclaimer: I do not own these characters